Board & Staff Updates

EFE Brings Chicago Attorney to the Board

Equip for Equality's newest board member, Seth Traxler, has learned from personal experience the enormous impact that a state's service delivery system can have on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. So, when Board Chairperson Michael Parks contacted Seth regarding participating in our annual event a year ago, Seth informed Michael that he would be interested in becoming involved with Equip for Equality.

Michael's follow-up earlier this summer led to Seth's election to Equip for Equality's board of directors in August. Seth's first board meeting was Equip for Equality's public meeting, held August 5, at the Chicago Bar Association headquarters.

Seth is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Northwestern University School of Law. After law school, he worked for the federal government, clerking for a federal judge in downtown Chicago for one year. He then joined the international law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where today he is a partner focusing primarily on transactions and counseling relating to intellectual property and technology issues.

"I am deeply impressed with Seth's commitment to and enthusiasm for advancing the rights of people with disabilities," says President and CEO Zena Naiditch. "The members of our board of directors bring us an enormous variety of experiences and skills, ranging from being self-advocates or veterans of the disability-rights movement, to lawyers, to financial experts or human-resources specialists, among other things. But the one thread that unites all of them is a passion for ensuring that people with disabilities have the same opportunities to lead as meaningful lives as everybody else. Seth clearly shares that passion, and we are excited about working with him."

Seth says that he "looks forward to offering my energy and ideas to help people with disabilities and their families overcome their challenges. I cannot wait to start contributing."

Because several new members have joined Equip for Equality's board over the last few years, the current board will conduct a oneday retreat this fall to give all the members a chance to get to know each other better, as well as getting to know our staff and our work better.

Gerard Broeker Leaves EFE

In Gerard Broeker's new role as the Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) of Illinois he will continue to advocate for disability rights. Before joining the SILC of Illinois, attorney Gerard Broker was the manager of the Traumatic Brain Injury program. He worked in the Springfield, Illinois office of Equip for Equality for more than 4 years. He will truly be missed.

EFE Welcomes New Staff Member

Development Associate Lisa Marie DiLorenzo joined the Equip for Equality family on June 14. In her new role, Lisa will research and cultivate new sources of donation/ grant revenue; maintain organizational records of gifts, foundation, public relations documents and interdepartmental request for print/ media materials; and support special projects and events. Lisa, a graduate of DePaul University, had worked broadly on membership and donor activities for both the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. She was also a career resource coordinator for DePaul's Multicultural Student Affairs office and a research analyst for Merit School for Music. Among her community services activities, Lisa volunteers assistance with hippo therapy (horse-riding therapy) for people with disabilities.

Shenetta Webster returns to EFE

Shenetta Webster, formerly the Intake Manager in the Chicago office, returns to Equip for Equality as an Attorney/Advocate in the Springfield Office. Ms. Webster's dedication to public interest law dates back to her formal education. Taking classes in Poverty Law and Consumer Law sparked her interest and gave her the knowledge and skills to take on positions serving persons in need of advocacy.

Prior to joining Equip for Equality, Ms. Webster taught law related courses in the undergraduate Division of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, and worked in public interest law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ms Webster came to Equip for Equality with experience in investigation, litigation, and issues of elder abuse, guardianship, protective placement, advance directives, landlord/tenant, and consumer law. As an attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin, she litigated cases resulting in reimbursements to victims of financial elder abuse. Ms. Webster earned her J.D. and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

More Kudos for EFE Attorney

Howard Rosenblum, Senior Attorney attended the National Association of Deaf (NAD) biennial conference in Kansas City, Missouri from July 5 - 11. He served as a delegate for the Illinois Association of the Deaf; as a judge in the college academic bowl, and as a speaker for a workshop entitled "My Right! Myths about the Law". The workshop focused on common myths and misconceptions that many Deaf people have about their rights under the ADA, Section 504 and other civil rights laws. He also had an opportunity to share about the Protection and Advocacy system and how it can help deaf and hard of hearing people with discrimination issues. He was appointed by the NAD to be the team leader for the Advocacy subcommittee of the restructuring effort they are conducting of the organization. This restructuring effort is being called the F3 project and will be an ongoing effort culminating in a report at the 2006 conference.

Howard Rosenblum also received "The Shining Star Award" on May 2, from the International Center on Deafness and the Arts (ICODA), an organization where individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and hearing are encouraged to Imagine, Create and Dream through shared artistic expression.

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